Watchmen Essay

AnalysisOfTheBook'Watchmen'ByAlanMoore

WatchmenbyAlanMooreandillustratedbyDaveGibbonsutilizestheliterarytoolofsymbols. Symbolssuchasthesmileypin,clocks,andthehaunting"whowatchesthewatchmen"graffitiall comeupseveraltimesinthegraphicnovel,thusalludingtoadeepermeaningTimeisamajor themethroughoutthecomicandplaysasignificantpartinthestructureandoutcomeofthestory. Thisthemeissuccessfullycoupledtothethemeofdestinybytheuseoftheclockandothersymbols thatarepresentthroughoutthecomic.Symbolssuchasclocks,thesmileypin,andthegraffitiare utilizedtoefficientlyconnectthethemesoftime,justiceandlossofinnocencethroughout

WatchmenTheclocksinWatchmenareusedtoforeshadowthefutureeventsinthenoveland connectthethemeofmoralitytothethemeoftime.Otherthantheliteralconnectionbetweencalling themselvesWatchmenandactualwatches,clocksandtimeingeneralplayahugepartinthearcof thecomic'sstorylineDoctorManhattan'sfatherwasawatchmakerbeforelearningthattimeis relevantandthereforeuseless.Jonhimselffindsthisoutthroughhisownexperiencewithtimeand seeingbackandforththroughit.Thisisparticularlyimportantbecausethewhole

reasonhebecameasuperheroisbecauseofawatch:

(Moore4.7–8)ThelastthingthereaderseesisJonholdingthewatchbeforeheisdisintegratedby thenuclearreactor.Thisconnectstothedoomsdayclockbecauseofthesimilarthreatof

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InthecomicWatchmen,variouselementsareatworktobringthecomictolifethroughitspages. Eachelementworkingtogetherprovidingamorein–depthfeelingtothereadingandunderstanding ofeachpage.LookingatchapterXpp.12–13,thesizeandshape,coloration,andtransitionsarethe threeelementsIfoundmostinterestingwhenlookingatthesetwopagesalongsidewhatandhowthe partofthestorywasbeingtoldOnpage12,panels1–3,aprotagonistisshownintheTalesofthe BlackFreighterisshipwreckedofftheUScoast.Asthereadersreachpanel6–9therebecomesa suddenoutbreakofviolencethatwouldbewelcomedtotheNewWorldisthentransformedintoa monstrousmurderer,horsethief,andlandpirateTheBlackFreighterstoryisanewspaperheadline thatisonlypartlyreadableforus,makingthereaderinferthemissingletters.Thearticlebringsa senseofwondertowardshowtheconceptsofvengeanceandretaliationmightbeconnected.The comicisreadbyoneoftheminorcharactersinthestoryline,whowithholdsmoreinformationthan thereaderdoes.Inthesamepanel,intheright–handcorner,thereisapersonreadingthepirate comics,showingbothreaderssharethesameplainofrealityWatchmencontinuallyforcesthe reader'sfocustoshift.ThroughoutWatchmenitisdifficulttotellwhichstorylineistrulyrelevant, whichinformationneedsprocessingfirst,andwhat,intheendshouldbedisregarded.Onestrategy usedtoachieve

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Theconflictbetweengoodandevilhasbeenaprominentaspectofliterature,andsocietyitself,for ages.Manypopularstoriesarebasedaroundtheherosucceedingintheirendeavoursbydefeating thearchnemesis;goodconquersevilbyperforminginamannerthatisdeemedmorallyright. However,inAlanMoore's,Watchmen,thenotionofmoralityisquestioned,suggestingthattheline separatinggoodfromevildoesnotexist.Rorschach,themostmorallyinfluencedwatchman,isa majoriconwhenanalysinggoodandevilinthisstoryMooreincorporatesRorschachwithashow morecontent...

whore?''Ohplease,don'tsaythat.Notinfrontofmykids...Theydon'tknow.Gotwhatwecame for.Finishedherenow.Let'sgo."(Moore,X.6)

Rorschachhasunmistakablylabelledthiswomenasevil;spreadingliesandrumoursforpersonal gainattheexpenseofsomeoneelseHowever,asshepleadsforhimnottocallheronheractionsin frontofherchildren,hebacksdown.ThisactofmercycompletelycontradictsRorschach's philosophy,"Thereisgoodandthereisevil,andevilmustbepunished.Eveninthefaceof Armageddon,Ishallnotcompromiseonthis"(Moore,I25)Byfailingtopunishthelandlady, Rorschachisinfactcontradictingthispreviousstatement.Bycondemningthewomen,hewouldbe subjectinginnocentstoviolence;therefore,heindeedcompromisesinhis"concrete"morality.In additiontothislapseinhismoraldedication,Rorschach'stendencytojustifysomeevilactions throughoutthestorychallengeshismoralabsolutismandcontradictshislateractions,"Iliked PresidentTrumanHedroppedtheatombombonJapanandsavedmillionsoflives"(Moore, VI.31)AlthoughthiswasquotedwhenRorschachwasachild,itisevidentthathestilladmires Trumanwhenhepraiseshimatthebeginningofthestory,"Theycouldhavefollowedinthe footstepsofgoodmen,likemyfatherorTruman"(Moore,I1)ItisclearthatRorschachapproves ofTruman'sactions,notingthathedidwhathedidfor

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1. AlanMoore's,Watchmen Rorschach:HeroorVillain? LeslieO'Sullivan

2.

Inthemovie,Watchmen,theethicalandmoralviewseachsuperherocharacterizedinthedarkand gloomyworldofcrimeandsinmakesusquestionwhichmoraltheoryisthebesttofollow.Eachof themfeelsadeepneedtobeasuperheroaccordingtotheirownideologicalperspectivethatallies withtheirmoralbeliefs(Wu).However,thedifferencessettingthemapartistheirminds.Thefirst superheroRorschach,whoseesevilallaroundhimandhasmadeithislife'spurposetoextinguishit fromtheworldatanycostisofthemoralbelieffromDeontology(Wu).Deontologysaysweshould notthinkofintermsofendsandmeansatall;instead,weshouldactonlyinwaysthatexpresses essentialmoralrules(WilliamIrwin,p64)Rorschachrationalizeshisdeontologybyfeelingevil shouldbepunished.Theoutcomedoesnotmatter,whatmattersisdoingtherightthing(William Irwin,p.64).AccordingtoKant,moralitybeginswithgoodwill.Kantsays,"wemustaskwhether wecanimagineourintentionsasagenerallawforeverybody"(Rosenstand,p.285).Thatmeansour intentionshavetoconformtoarationalprinciple(Rosenstand,p.285).Itcannotbedeterminedby somegut–levelfeeling(Rosenstand,p285)Rorschachtakeshisowndeontologicalmoralityin fightingcrimewithoutthinkingabouthismaxim(Rosenstand,p.287).Onceyoustartthinking aboutpunishingcrime,itreallyisnotaprincipleanymorethanamotive(Rosenstand,p.286). Therefore,

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SuperheroesInWatchmen

Watchmenisdifferentfrommostsuperherostories.Forinstance,thesuperheroesinWatchmencan beconsideredoutcast,unenjoyedbythepeopleofthecity.Theyhaveamuchdifferentreputation fromothersuperheroeswehearabout,suchasBatmanandSuperman.Forexample,thisoutcast themeisseenwhenthecitizensofthecitythrowshadeatDr.Manhattanforcausingcancer(Moore 89–91),andtheconstantfearwhenRorschachappears(Moore23)Furthermore,thegovernment passedalawthatforbidsthemfromexistingintheirsuperherostate.Inotherwords,theyarenot glorifiedasseeninothersuperherodepictions.Afterreadingandseeingthiswithinthefirstchapters ofthegraphicnovel,wemustaskourselves:Arethecharactersof

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Iftheconceptofgoodandevilwasclearandconcise,everynationwouldhaveanidenticalcriminal codes.However,mortalityissubjectiveasreligion,cultureandpersonalopinionsinfluencehuman's judgmentofwhatisrightandwrongThegraphicnovelWatchmen,writtenanddrawnbyMoore andGibbonsisagraphicnovelaboutamysteriousmurdererhuntingvigilantesformallyknownas theWatchmen.WhiletheremainderoftheformermembersoftheWatchmenaresearchingforthis mysteriousmurderer,thegraphicnoveldepictshoweachvigilantehadhisorherversionofjustice andhowitshouldbeserved.Byshowingtheperspectiveofeachvigilantes'viewoftheworld, Watchmendemonstratesthattheconceptofgoodandevildifferforeveryindividual.Thevigilante's history,theirperspectiveofhowtheworldrunsandtheirconceptofjustice,areareflectionofhow peopleinmoderndaysocietycannotfullyagreeonasetofsocialstandard.

Whentheworldwasminutesawayfromreachingmidnightonthedoomsdayclock,Ozymandishad executedhisplantopreventtheworldfromanucleardestruction.Byteleportingamonsterto destroyhalfofNewYork,itforcedtheworldtoworktogethertodefeatthismonsterwhile forgettingthefactthattheywereengagedintheColdWorld.Ozymandias'understandingof moralitywasthatsomesacrifices,civiliancasualtiesandthedestructionofNewYork,mustbe madeforthegreatergood,stoppingtheworldfromtotalannihilation.

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heWatchmendeconstructsthetypicalsuperherogenreinanumberofdifferentwaysandattemptsto explainhowtheywouldfitintoourworld.OneofthemostinterestingthingsaboutWatchmenis howeasilyitfitsintoourhistory.Forexample,theassassinationofJFKismentioned,alongwith theSovietinvasionofAfghanistan.OneofthemostnotablepartsofWatchmenishowitdestroys thewholeheroversusvillainscenarioItsuggeststotheaudiencethatthetwomaynotbeasclean asonemightthink.Idon'tthinkMooretriedtoatallsuggestthat"legitimate"authorityfiguresare anydifferent––that'sthepoint,theyaren't.Theyaresimplyjustlikeoneofus.

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RorschachInAlanMoore'sTheWatchmenEssay

ThroughthecharacterRorshach,TheWatchmenexplorestheissuesofnatureversesnurturefor him.Mooreaddsthatasuperhero,canbeapsychologicalargument.Asuperheroisneitherborn norshapedbyenvironment,itisthecreationofanalteregotosuppresschildhoodconflictinginner issues.Rorshachdealtwithissuesasayoungchildthatrationalizedinhismindtohidebehinda costumeandamaskinordertolive

ThefirstcharacterthebookintroducestothereadertoisRorschach,WalterJosephKovacs,oneof themaincharactersRorschachrevealshispastandwhyhewearsamaskonpageelevenWalter's pastisrevealedinchaptersixwhenheisexaminedbyapsychiatrist.ThepsychiatristgivesWalter inkblotsandshowmorecontent

EvidenceofWalter'sangertowardsocietyoccurswhenWalterreadsabouttheKittyGenovese's storyinthenewspaper."Someofthemevenwatched.Iknewwhatpeoplewere,then,behind, alltheevasions,alltheself–deceptionAshamedforhumanity"(pg10,chap6,panel8) Kittywasrapedandmurder.Heformedanopinionaboutsocietythattheywereinhumaneandcruel. Walterlashedbackattherapist.WhiletalkingtothepsychologistitisrevealedthatWalterfound therapistwhohadmurderedthegirl.TherapisthadfedKitty'sfleshandbonestohistwoGerman shepards.Rorschachmurderedthedogs."ItwasKovacswhosaid"Mother"then, muffledunderlatexItwasKovacswhoclosedhiseyesItwasRorschachwhoopenedthem again."(pg.21,chap.6,panel6–7)Thisisamajorturningpointinthestory.Bysayingthathe openedhiseyesandhewasRorschachhiscreatedalteregocouldnowflourishanddevelop.When RorschachmurderedthedogshethoughtofhismotherWhenWalterlashedouthewasdoingitto hismothernotthedogs,thisisdisplayedwhenWaltermuttersmotherbeforeheslaysthedogs. Becauseofthisincidentandhismother,hetookitoutonthecommunityandbecameRorschach. "Iwenthome.ItooktheremainsofherunwanteddressandmadeafacethatIcouldbearto lookatinthe

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AllenMoore'ssordiddepictionoftwentiethcenturylifepresentsacomplexworld,wherethe distinctionbetweenavirtuousheroandavillainouswrongdoerisoftenblurred.Instarkcontrastto thetraditionallypopularizedportrayalofsuperheroes,whoseunquestionablyaltruisticmotives ultimatelyproduceunrealisticallyidealizedresults;therealisticallyflawedcharactersofWatchmen existinamultifacetedworldcharacterizedbymoralambiguityAmerica'simperialisticambitions havelongbeenjustifiedasanexpressionofAmericanidealism.Muchliketheportrayalof superheroesinpopularculture,America'sinterventioninforeignaffairswasportrayedastheresult ofaclearlydefinedproblem,whereAmericaninterventionwasshowmorecontent

Jadedfromseeinghumanitiesuprisingsfirsthand,heknowsthattheyarenothingmorethan symptomsofanunderlyingdisease.Becauseofhisexperience,heisabletoseemoredeeplyintothe truthofAmericanideology,butheisunabletodomuchaboutit.Ashesays,"Onceyoufigureout whatajokeeverythingis,beingtheComedian'stheonlythingthatmakessense"(Mooreand Gibson,Part2,Pg13)EmbitteredbytheemptinessoftheAmericanDreamandthesavageryof humannaturetheComedianbecomesabrutalcynic.Seeingtherotandwickednessoftheworld clearly,hefashionshispersonaintoaparodyofit.Whentoldofthedifficultyofdiscerningwhether heisjokingorbeingserious,hereplieswithrancor,"Iamthejoke.TheComedianisapointed critiqueofthisdream.HisvisionofAmericaistaintedbydecadesimmersedinthefesteringgutsof forgottenwars,heseesthatbeastthathisnationhasbecome,andratherthanfightithetransforms intoamonsterhimself.ThisisclearlydemonstratedwhileNightOwlandTheComedianare fightingoffacrowdriotingagainstcostumedheroes.NightOwlasks,"WhathappenedtoAmerica? WhathappenedtotheAmericandream?"AstheComedianfiressmokebombsintoanunarmed crowd,hecoldlyreplies,"Itcametrue.You'relookingatit"(MooreandGibson,Part2,Pg.18).

"ThesupermanexistsandheisAmerican"(Mooreand

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WatchmenwrittenbyAlanMooreandillustratedbyDaveGibbonsutilizestheliterarytoolof symbolstoconnectideasandthemes.Timeisamajorthemethroughoutthecomicandplaysa significantpartinthestructureandoutcomeofthestoryThisthemeissuccessfullycoupledtothe themeofdestinybytheuseoftheclockandothersymbolsthatarepresentthroughoutthecomic. Symbolssuchasclocks,thesmileypin,andthegraffitiareutilizedtoefficientlyconnectthethemes oftime,justiceandthelossofinnocenceandmoralitythroughoutWatchmenThecombinationof allofthesethemesultimatelyalludetoOzymandias'decisiontounleashchaosonManhattanby foreshadowinghisbetrayalandexplaininghowimpossibleitistoentrenchthepeacethathehas manufacturedbyunleashingthischaos.TheclocksinWatchmenareusedtoforeshadowcrucial futureeventsandconnectthethemesofmoralityandtime.Otherthantheliteralconnectionbetween callingthemselvesWatchmenandrecurringimagesofactualwatches,doomsdayclocksandtimein generalplaysahugepartinthearcofthecomic'sstoryline.Thisisbecauseoftheimpending destructionthattheworldistofaceatthehandsofOzymandias.DoctorManhattan'sfatherwasa watchmakerbeforelearningthattimeisirrelevantandthereforeuselessJonhimselffindsthisout throughhisownexperiencewithtimeandseeingbackandforththroughit.Thisisparticularly importantbecausethewholereasonhe

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OnthefirstpageofWatchmen,themostimpressivenoteisthecolorofMooreandGibbonsused. Thefirstpictureisastainedyellowsmileyfacesurroundingwithbloodontheground,bothcolors showsinthedifferentmeaningandthemixtureofthecolorscreateddifferences,Mooreand Gibbonschooseblood(Red)torepresentsasuicidecaseandyellowsmileyfaceasjudgingtheworld irony,itexpressesthedepressingmoodIthinkMooreandGibbonsunderstandsthedifferenceof coloranduseittoreflectthetopics,andattractthereaderstoread.Inmyopinion,thecomicscanbe consideredasliterature,Ithinkcomicsisaformtoexpressthestoryvisually,itisdifferentwithtext becausetheyfocusonthedifferentareaIfthetext

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WatchingtheWatchmenWhilereadingWatchmenwiththepurposeoftextualanalysis,thereare manydifferentthingstoconsider.AlanMooreandDaveGibbonstookmanyoriginalapproachesto thetypicalsuperherostorywhenformulatingthisnovel.Watchmenisastoryaboutagroupof outlawedsuperheroesinNewYorkCity.Thestorylinesandbackgroundsofparticularcharacters areshownduringthecomic,andweseehowdifferentthesecharactersarefromthestoriesoftypical superheroes.Whentryingtocloselyanalyzethistext,wecouldconsidercontext,rhetorical strategies,andthecomparisontotheCatholicIntellectualTeaching.Whenlookingatthecontextof thispiece,itisinterestingtothinkaboutwhyMooreandshowmorecontent Otherwaysthatironyisusedwithinthecomicismoregeneral,likethesmileyfacewithastainof bloodonit.Thisimageisoriginallyintroducedonthefirstpageofthewholenovelbutisalsoa reoccurringimage.(1.1).Somethingthatisusuallyseenassohappyisnowtaintedwithsomething consideredsodark.Gibbonsfrequentuseofthisimagemayshowthecorruptnessofthesuperheroes andthecity,orevenworld,asawholeAnotherexampleofthegeneralironyusedwithin Watchmenisfightingviolencewithmoreviolence.AprimecharactertoportraythisisRorschach. Hischildhoodcouldbetoblameforhiscrookedways,butheisalwaysviolentinhisapproaches, eveniftheyareforagoodcause.WhenRorschachwastryingtosaveakidnappedgirl,heused violencetotrytosolvetheproblem."Visitedunderworldbarsandbeganhurtingpeople.Put fourteeninhospitalneedlessly"(618–25)Thisisironicbecausetheyaresupposedtobe superheroes,andsavingpeople.Superheroesaresupposedtotakethegoodwayout,butthelines betweenheroandvillainareprettyblurredinthisnovel.IronyisakeyfeatureinWatchmenbecause itletsusseehowtheauthorandillustratorwantedustoviewthecharactersItportrayshowmessed upandbrokentheWatchmenactuallyare.Therearemanywaysthatyoucouldcomparethe CatholicIntellectualTeachingtoWatchmen.

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ThefollowingpaperwillpresentabriefsummaryofAlanMoore'sWatchmenbookaswellasone ofDeclaration,whoseauthorsareMichaelHardtandAntonioNegri.Also,itwillcritiqueand analyzeWatchmenthroughHardtandNegri'spointofviewofferedbyDeclaration.Finally,a subjectiveargumentwillbeprovidedregardingacontemporarypoliticaldysfunctionalitythat connectswithoneoftheonesthatcanbefoundinWatchmen

Afairytalekindofstory...

OnceuponatimeinCommon–land,thereweretwofrustratedthinkerswhothoughtofthemselves asheroesTheserevolutionariesbelievedtheycouldmakeadifferencebyredefiningwhathad alreadybeendefinedbytheirpredecessors(Lecture7/27/15).Theirbiggestconcerncanbe summarizedshowmorecontent

Insomeinstances,separatingthepowerfromthepeoplecanbedeadlyandalsoleadtodictatorial regimesthatultimatelyendupcommittingatrocitiesagainstitsownpeople(Page26).Also,this categoryinterfereswiththeabilityofsocietytoworktogetherandcooperateinthesensethat regularpeoplehaveahardtimetryingtogetaccesstothegovernmentalinstitutions(Page29). Finally,itisimportanttomentionthatatotalanarchicalsystemisnotbeingsuggested,butabetter wayofrepresentationinwhichthereisnoabuseofpowerormisrepresentationintermsofpolicies thataremalevolentforthemultitude(Page

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InthefilmWatchmenthereareanoffellotofsuperherosmovingaround,fightingcrime,soitmay seemhardtopinoutandpickaherothatyouthinkbestembodiesthecertaintraitsyou'relooking for.TheherowewantistheAntihero,someonewhoisselfish,unclearlymotivated,hasflawsthat theydon'tseeasaproblem,andallaroundbethekindofpersonthatoperatedinthemorallygray areasoflifeAtaglance,mostpeoplewouldprobablysaythatRorschachisthisfilmsantihero Afterallhedoeskillpeoplebecausehebelievesthat'swhatheneedstodo.Iwouldargueagainst thatnotion,Idon'tthinkRorschachisanantiheroatall.Foronethinghedoesn'tliveinthegray area,assymbolisedbyhismask,heseestheworldasblackandwhiteHeneverseeksattentionor doesthingsforhisindividualgain.Heisn'tconcernedwithselfpreservationandalwaysdoeswhat hebelievesisright.Soourantiheromustbesomeoneelse.showmorecontent InthemovieweonlyeverseetheComediandoingthingsthatarequestionableatbestandhorrificat worst.Heisselfmotivated,greedy,showsnoremorseforhisactions,andoverallisapatheticto everythinginhislife(shownbyhisrecurringphrase'it'sallajoke')TheComedianisn'taniceman, butheisn'tavillaineither.Weknowthatifhewasavillainhewouldn'tbeapartoftheMinutemen. Sohehasobviouslydonesomegoodinhislifetoo.Thegoodandthebadtogetherwithnoremorse makestheComediantheherothatoperatesinthemorallygraypartsof

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LiteraryAnalysis:Watchmen

LiteraryAnalysis:WatchmenThetermpostmodernismhasbeendefinedindifferentwaysoverthe pastyearsbutitstillhasn'thaditsofficialdefinition.Postmodernismisadauntingsubjectbecause ofthedisagreementsbetweenpeopleofhowtheyinterrupttextsandart.Postmodernismisacriticof whatweassumetoberealorafantasyofwhatwewanttobereal.Postmodernismraisesan importanceofidentityPostmodernismisastyleandconceptofthearts,architectureandthe criticismthatshowsabreakfrommodernism.Postmodernismhighlightsideasandtheories.Itcan includedifferentartisticstylesinart.Forexample,anartistcanmixpopartwithaniconimagesuch asMarilynMonroe,ormakerecycledgarbageintonewartWatchmenshowmorecontent AlanMooreputthecomponentsofthegenerationandtherealworld,makingthescenariosvivid andfeellikereality.Mooreplacesanalternativeuniverseandinterminglesitwithreality.Mankind isbuiltupontwothings,wrongandright.InWatchmenMooretakesawaythestereotypesofgood andbadandreplacesthemwithtruth.Peopleallhavedifferentmeaningsofthetruth,whichisalso onereasonwhythenovelwasfromeachcharacter'sperspective,tobemorebiasandofcourseto capturetheirowndefinitionoftruth.Again,inlifetherearealwaystwooptions.Manisinclinedto pickoneortheother...oneanswermightnotberightwhiletheothermightnotbebetter.Moore turningthisnovelintoacomicbookchangedviews.Hetookadirectionwheremanypeopleofthe timewould'vethoughtwasaneducationalformofwritingandMooreprovedhispointthatcomic bookscantoobeliteratureMooreprovedhispointwithwritingdevicessuchasimagery, frameworknarrative,intertextualityandthemixedchorologicalorders.Watchmenprovedapoint thatyoucanputworkofliteratureintopictures.

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Watchmenisarevolutionarypieceofliterature.Itistechnicallyacomicbook,someprefertocallit agraphicnovel.Thereisanegativeconnotationthatgoesalongwiththat.Graphicnovelsare frequentlypresumedtoochildishandfantastictoactuallyteachanyinsightfullessonsorevenmake youponderthematall.Watchmenisagraphicnovelthattranscendsthisunduecriticismofcomic booksItis,"Oneofthefirstinstancesof[a]newkindofcomicbookafirstphaseof development,thetransitionofthesuperherofromfantasytoliterature."(Klock,pgs.25–26) AlanMoore'sstoryoffersanimmersiveandcomplexplotthatraisesallsortsofmoralquestions.It isanextraordinaryworkofliteraturethatoccupiesawellshowmorecontent

Hegetsajobasanunskilledworkerinthegarmentsindustry.Heishorrifiedtoseeinthe newspaper:themurderofafamiliarcustomer.Heretellsthetaletohisshrink, "Raped.Tortured.Killed.Here.InNewYork.Outsideherownapartmentbuilding.Almostforty neighborsheardscreams.Nobodydidanything.Nobodycalledcops.Someofthemevenwatched. Doyouunderstand?SomeofthemevenwatchedIknewwhatpeoplewere,then,behindallthe evasions,alltheself–deception.Ashamedforhumanity,Iwenthome."(Watchmen,pg.188)

ThiseventpushedKovacsintodonninghisvigilantepersona.However,Rorschach,accordingto Walter,wasnotcreatedthen.Hedidn'tbecome"Rorschach"untillaterinhiscrime–fightingcareer.

Walterwasforeverchangedafterinvestigatingagruesomecase,inwhichalittlegirlwas kidnapped,murdered,andfedtotheperpetrator'sdogsAftersolvingthecase,Rorschachcomments, "ItisnotGodwhokillsthechildren.Notfatethatbutchersthemordestinythatfeedsthemtothe dogs.It'sus.Onlyus.Streetsstankoffire.Thevoidbreathedhardonmyheart,turningitsillusions toice,shatteringthemWasrebornthen,freetoscrawlowndesignonthismorallyblankworld WasRorschach."(Watchmenp.204)

Rorschachviewedtheworldexclusivelyinblackandwhite.Onecansurmisethiswasthereasonfor hismask,whichconsistedineverchangingRorschachinkblots.Whenfacedwithamoraldilemma, Rorschach

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Date Course Professor/Instructor

PsychologicalDisordersanalyzedinWatchmenThroughoutthegraphicnovelWatchmenwritten byAlanMoore,MooretellsthestoryofaparticularsuperherogroupreferredtoasWatchmen whomforthemostpartpossessrelativelyhumancharacteristics.Inareversedmanner,Mooreuses thesecharacterstosymbolizethedifferentkindsofhumanbeingsintheworldratherthanthetypical superbeingssooftencreatedintraditionalcomicbooks(Disinformation).Likehumans,characters inWatchmenallfallshortoftheirownproblems,failures,andweaknessesandstrugglelikeevery day–to–daypeopleinsociety.Oneofthemanyafflictionsthattheheroesface,inparticular Rorschach,Ozymandias,and...showmorecontent...

BeginningtounderstandJon,itisalwaysimportanttolookintothecharacter'spastUnlike Rorschach'sabusivetale,Joncamefromaclean–cut,educatedbackgroundbeforehistransformation intoDoctorManhattan.AfterthetransformationhoweveriswhenJoncanbeassociatedwitha specificdisordercalledSchizoidPersonalityDisorderthatsumsupDoctorManhattanperfectly. SchizoidPersonalityDisorder(SPD)isadisorderthanischaracterizedby"lackofinterestinsocial relationships,atendencytowardsasolitarylifestyle,secretiveness,emotionalcoldness,andapathy" (Perry6).OtherprovidinginformationaboutthisdisorderstatesthatSPDcancharacterizepeopleas "comfortablydullandatthesametimesensitive."Manyaredescribedtohave"shut–in personalities"andincapableofcommondiscussionofevents(Akhtar500)Somepsychologists struggletodetermineifSPDisconsideredanillnessoranactualpersonalitydisorder(Panagiotis 46).Othersarguethatinfactindividualspresentedwithdifficultiesmaytendtokeeprelationshipsat adistance,choosingtobemoreself–reliantwhiletheyfeeldiscomfortwithintimacyand interdependence(Panagiotis47).ThestatementslistedaboveindescribingSPDexistsverymuch withinDoctorManhattanAfterhistransformation,hispersonalitybecamecontradictoryofwhathis "human"personalityusetobe.Inexplanationofthisclaim,

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WatchmenWrittenbyAlanMooreandDaveGibbonsisaboutmaskedsuperheroesbeingmurdered. Thefirstmurderwasthecomedian,hisnamewasEdwardBlake.EdwardBlakewasthrownoutofa windowafterbeingbeatenupbysomeone,whoisn'tknownyet.Whenhewasthrownoutofthe windowthekillerleftabloodysmileyfaceasasymbol.Rorschachisoneofthefewmasked superheroesleftthatstillinvestigateandworktosolveacrimeHefindsthebodyandthesmiley faceandgoestoinvestigatethecrimesceneafterthepoliceleavethescene.Rorschachgoestothe previouslymaskedsuperheroesandwarnsthen.ThefirstherohegoestoisDanDreiberg,hewas theniteowlRorschachbrokeintoDan'shouseandwaseatingbeansWhenDanwalks

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ColinEllis Dr.Angel ENGL2322.P01

21March2016

Watchmen

Watchmen,byDCComics,shouldbeconsideredaliteraryworkforitsgreatuseofrealismand deconstruction,storytellingandsubplots,andthefocusonpersonalcharacterdevelopmentandtheir moralcodesWatchmenutilizestheseaspectsinawaythatmakesthereaderchangethewaythey thinkabouttheirpopularcultureandwhatisvaluabletothem.Theseaspectshelpsolidifytheidea thatWatchmenisthefirstinanewbreedofcomics,oneinwhichtheymakethetransitionfrom fantasytoliterature.Itisaworkthatisrecognizedbymanyasarevolutionarycomicseries,andis evenlaudedasoneofthebestnovelsandmostsignificantworksofthe20thcentury.Ithas solidifieditsplaceasaculturalclassicinAmericaanditwouldbeinjudicioustonotseeWatchmen asaliterarywork.

InordertoseeWatchmenasaliterarywork,onemustunderstandwhatthatis.Aclassicisaliterary workourculturestudiesduetoitsabilitytomaintainbeingconventional,orpopular,andrelevant despitetimeschanging.WhenpeoplethinkofanAmericanclassic,peoplethinkofstorieslike HarperLee'sToKillaMockingbird,FScottFitzgerald'sTheGreatGatsby,andJohnSteinbeck's TheGrapesofWrath.Inthesenovels,theauthorsutilizecertainaspectsoflanguage,suchasintense characterdevelopment,subplots,andrealism,andtiesthemtogethertocreategreat,detailed storylinesThisuseoflanguageand

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Theheroesfromtheearlyageofcomicsaregrand,god–like,andmorallygood,withoutmuch anxietytokeepthemfromachievingtheirtasks.However,thischaracterizationevolvedoverthe years,showingthatsuchcharactershavemanylayerstothem.Thecharacterizationofheroes,as giveninWatchmen,hasevolvedtofitthatoftheproblemsoftheage,andhere,weseethatthereare moreproblemsthanjustpoliticaloreconomic;thesocietyitselfisfaulted,butperhapsduetothe differentexperiencesonehasgonethrough,traumaticortrying.Watchmenprovidesanaccountof differentheroesthatusethemask,suchasLaurieJuspeczyk,TheComedian,Rorschach,and Ozymandias,anddelvesintothemtodemonstratethelackofagency,theaddiction,theshowmore content...

Often,aparentwillpushtheirinterestsontotheirchild,thusremovingthechild'sagency.Inan interview,SallyJupiter,Laurie'smom,says,"[...]Iguess,inalotofways,itwasmewhopushed Laurie[...]intothislineofwork"(––312).Laurieevenclaimsthatshe"waslivingout[her] mother's[fantasy]"(––217)AsDavidElkinsexplainsinhisarticle,"–,"often,parentsaretryingto behelpfulandhavegoodintentions,butthereareparentswho"pushtheirchildrentosucceedinthe interestoftheirownegos[or]usetheirchildrentorelivetheirownchildhooddreams"(Elkins––). SallybelievessheisbetteringLaurie'slifeasshesays,"[...]she'llstartthinkingintermsofwhatI savedherfrominsteadofwhatIcondemnedherto"(––312).TheexpectationswhichLauriemust livebyhaveanegativeinfluenceonher,causinghertoquestionthemeaningofherlifeandmaking herbitter(––,33,––).Elkinsnotesthat"millionsofchildrenacrossAmericafeeloverwhelmedand pressured,"andsometimesmaygothroughdepressionbecauseofit(Elkins––).There

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